A novel, unique way to open up rural communities, boost agriculture and employment, empower and address constituents’ needs, and thus alleviate poverty and economic hardship, has been introduced by a First-time Abia state lawmaker in the House of Representatives for Arochukwu /Ohafia Constituency,Hon Chief Ibe Okwara Osonwa, of the Labour Party.

Hon Osonwa, an Accountant, has instead of just distributing income-generating materials, sponsoring Skills acquisition and providing Start-up funds, granting education scholarships, among others, to his constituents, as part of his empowerment packages, which has being the practice of his colleagues, procured two Brand New Road-grading Machineries (Grader and Payloader ) for the opening and grading of rural Farm Roads in his Constituency.

Other Items distributed were Bags of rice, mini buses, motorcycles, Generators, Vulcanizing, Hairdressing tools, Sewing Machines, grinders, etc.

Speaking during his Mega Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation Programme which had in attendance, the House of Reps member for Isiala Ngwa North/ South Constituency ( Abia ) and held at Ohafia LGA premises where he distributed the two Machineries and other various income-generators to over 500 Constituents, Hon Osonwa said that he was happy to be ” doing what we should be doing in governance. As good leaders, we continue to do the needful to reduce the burdens on them”.

Stating that he is lucky to belong to Abia, which he asserted is one of the rapidly progressing states in the country, he commended those who applied to be empowered by him, urging them to apply the materials provided to them profitably and legitimately, and extend the benefits to others.

He disclosed that his decision to provide the two Machineries was to accelerate access to the rural areas, open up roads for farming activities, increase food availability and employment, noting that under this arrangement, only Diesel would be procured to operate the Machineries, and by so doing, save the high cost of hiring them ( such Machineries ) from Private owners.

The State governor, Dr Alex Otti, who was represented by his Deputy, Chief Ikechukwu Emetu, an indigene of the constituency, described the event as a powerful testament to purposeful representation that goes beyond empowerment, thus making leadership more impactful.

” I commend Hon Ibe Osonwa for this program designed to help our people to help themselves and contribute to the growth of communities and free them from poverty, take them away from economic dependence to independence, stabilize family income”.

While the Chairman/Mayor of the host Ohafia LGA, Chief Eleanya Ojuu Kalu, who showered thunderous ovation on Hon Osonwa, described his empowerment style as both remarkable and first of its type in the state, the beneficiaries that spoke in turns, prayed God to divinely cause the emergence of their representatives that are in the mould of Hon Osonwa